Brains and Brawn: Smartest Players in the NFL

Regardless of the position, proof of intelligence plays a profound role in the success of every individual on a team. It's not enough to have physical ability. Players have to be smart and think quickly to succeed on the field.

- 53: number of players each NFL team can have on its roster (plus a 5 player practice squad)
- 32: number of teams in the NFL
- 1,696: number of players, total in the NFL

Measuring Intelligence in the NFL

- WPT: 50 question intelligence test that measures players' ability to think on their feet, follow directions, and make effective decisions under the pressure of a time clock.
- 1937: Year the WPT was developed, as a tool to quantify the mental abilities of potential job candidates;
- 2.5 million: number of applicants in all types of companies that take WPT as part of the hiring process.
- Early 1970s: first use of WPT in NFL by Dallas Cowboys
- Fact: For the NFL, years of testing shows that the higher a player scores on the Wonderlic, the more likely he is to be in the starting lineup - for any position.

Smarts

- Pat McInally, once a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, is the only football player to record a confirmed perfect score of 50. (1976-1985)
- Frank Gore, San Francisco running back (still active), scored one of the lowest Wonderlic scores: 6. But has confounded the critics by being an all star.
- Current player Ryan Fitzpatrick, a Harvard University graduate like McInally, has also been rumored to have scored a perfect score of 50.
- Scouts highly value attributes such as height, quickness, arm strength, vision, leadership and intelligence (CNN/SI, 1998)

College football conferences (Brains vs. Brawn) with players represented in NFL

- Ivy League: 7
- SEC: 329

The 5 smartest teams in football in 2012 (based on efficiency in terms of yards per points scored and yards per points allowed)

The 5 dumbest teams in 2012 (based on the same factors)

Top 5 smartest players

- 1. Ryan Fitzpatrick: A Harvard economics major, was selected the MVP of the Ivy League in 2004. His SAT score was nearly flawless 1580. Tennessee Titans.
- 2. Greg McElroy: The Alabama grad scored an impressive 43 out of 50 on the Wonderlic Test. His high football IQ makes his prospects as a coach. N.Y. Jets.
- 3. Matt Birk: The six-time Pro Bowler graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics. Recently retired from Baltimore Ravens.
- 4. Desmond Bryant: The Cleveland Brown defensive tackle received an academic scholarship to attend Harvard. He's only the 29th player from Harvard to make it to the NFL.
- 5. Bryan Walters: As a senior at Cornell University, Walters was elected into the Sphinx head society, one of college's oldest and most respected honor societies. Plays for Seattle.